A reexamination of the brutal rape and murder of a Hollywood starlet in 1921 reveals the truth about the affair, exposing the Hollywood conspiracy that framed comedian Fatty Arbuckle. Reprint.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sensationalist Title, Compassionate Book,
By A Customer
This review is from: Frame-Up!: The Shocking Scandal That Destroyed Hollywood's Biggest Comedy Star Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle (Paperback)
Don't let the sensationalistic-sounding title throw you -- this is an EXTREMELY well-written and compelling book about Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, the silent film comic who was wrongfully accused of rape and murder. A wonderful, funny man lost his career and his good name -- all because his Hollywood bosses wanted to save a few bucks. This book is well worth the out-of-print wait!
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Irrelevant rehash,
This review is from: Frame-Up!: The Shocking Scandal That Destroyed Hollywood's Biggest Comedy Star Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle (Paperback)
I can't really see a point to this book. It brings nothing new to the Arbuckle story, and the writing is weak. There's nothing here that wasn't covered in more detail -- and better -- in David Yallop's "The Day the Laughter Stopped."
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Tragic Life of a Comedian,
By Acute Observer (By the Shore NJ) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Frame-Up!: The Shocking Scandal That Destroyed Hollywood's Biggest Comedy Star Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle (Paperback)
Frame-Up!, Andy Edmonds
In 1976 Andy Edmonds met Joe Rock, a silent-film comedian and producer. Joe told her the story about what really happened at that Arbuckle party. Roscoe's former wife Minta Durfee confirmed this story. Later when researching old records she found two $10,000 bank checks made out to the San Francisco district attorney. She found a plan to frame Roscoe, and the crimes of prosecution's star witness (p.9). Andy received the court transcripts of the first two trials. From this and other sources she uncovered a new and shocking story about the San Francisco party and why Roscoe became a scapegoat (`Foreword'). The `Acknowledgments' thank the many who helped with this book. There is no Table of Contents. A Filmography on pages 275 to 319 lists all the known films. Roscoe Conkling Arbuckle went from one of the most popular film stars to a hated murderer and rapist due to the newspapers. [He was named after a prominent New York politician who died after the Blizzard of 1888.] Roscoe later worked under the name `William Goodrich' (his father's name). The chapters contain Roscoe's biography, his life and hard times, until he blossomed as a performer in California. He met and married Minta Durfee. Roscoe was sweet until he drank. Roscoe invented pie-throwing in movies (p.51). He became popular and earned $500 a week (when $5 a week was good wages). Silent films were popular world-wide (p.92). The big corporations tried to take over the small film businesses (Chapter 12). The next chapters tell about the party at the St. Francis Hotel. Newspaper headlines convicted Roscoe (p.173). He was charged with murder in the first degree (p.176). Would the publicity reveal "rampant drug abuse" and "blatant sexual degeneracy" in Hollywood (p.177)? There were discrepancies in the witnesses' testimony (p.179). Roscoe's lawyer told him to keep silent so some witnesses could not fabricate stories or lies to refute Roscoe (Chapter 17). The prosecutor tried to keep Delmont from testifying first (p.184). Could she enhance her testimony after hearing others?] Delmont's "testimony would not stand up under scrutiny" (p.186). The effect of the arrest for Roscoe was near bankruptcy (p.189). Would a D.A. base a case on lies to win elections (p.196)? The trial begins in Chapter 20. Roscoe testified (Chapter 21). The jury was deadlocked ten to two for acquittal. People know of the lies told but not the truth (pp.242-243). One result was a movie-industry controlled censorship board (Chapter 22). It stopped foreign competition (p.244). The second trial was deadlocked ten to two for conviction (p.246). In the third trial defense lawyer McNab emphasized Virginia's background as a prostitute who had several abortions and a number of venereal diseases (p.247). Roscoe was quickly acquitted, but left bankrupt and owing back taxes to the IRS. [Do most people today assume guilt?] The public paid to see Roscoe's films (Chapter 23). What really happened is on pages 250-252. Was Roscoe set up? Page 253 explains. Roscoe was the first blacklisted actor (p.254). Some theater owners rejected the ban (p.255). This ban deprived an individual from earning a living. Roscoe began to direct comedies (Chapter 24). William Jennings Bryan condemned Roscoe (p.259). Chapter 25 is the last. Write Roscoe scripted "That's My Line" and "Beach Pajamas", fictionalized versions of this scandal (pp.270-271). Roscoe drank more (p.272) and developed health problems (p.273). In 1933 he died in his sleep, age 46. [In the 1949 film "D. O. A." "Frank Bigelow" attended a party in a St. Francis Hotel suite. The same room numbers as used by Roscoe Arbuckle?] The page numbers are from the hardcover book.
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